Shoe-shank stiffener



`Patataat.4,1930,y *1,146,010lv UNITED STATESy 'PTENT Ii@lill-"1CIS` AWIIQIALAM H. NIGKERson. or,` BARooKLINni-rivrAssAoHUsnr'rs I `sims-sirnitx vsfrIrrruvrzra i' l i application med september 8.1928. serial Ng. serre-a7. This invention relates to a shank stiffener, 1 andf).k The stiffener has its maximum """7 adapted to be interposed between the shank width at vits forward end, its rear end pory portions of the insoleand outsole of a shoe, tionbeingconsiderably narrower and termiand to support an external longitudinal ridge nating in a narrow extension or tongue 12 A onfthe shank portion ofl the'outso'le, the ridge.Vv adapted to bear on fthe heel portion 13a of 55V conforming kclosely to the under surface of the insole. Thelength ofthe stiffeneris such I the'stiifener, which is ri'dged to permanently' that. its forward endf is located in .the ball support and maintain' the predetermined Y portion of the shoe bottom. vThe stiifener form of the outsoleridge. l be `secured tothe insole by any suitable n.

The object of the invention is to provide a 1neans,such as ,nails 17, driven through holes x60 shank stiifenerwhich is ridged to support thek in the'inner end extension,or spurs,18,'formed 'ff f n forward end portion of an outsole ridge in @011 thezforward endjor'by both nails and n,

' l 3Ourel.

i. l` 35 being shown by dotted lines.

position to adequately support the forward Spurs. Y portion of the keystone ar h of the wearers f The'StienerfS HOVClGd .Wth 101,1g11rd7 oot. y l

Of the accompanying drawings forming@J inner edge12? so that 'ones'ide of the ridge t 'part of this specific'atiorn-` i Y. hasa reentrantformation.' [The rid'gefpro- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view lof a shank jects rOmthe Under Side 0f thStfeef, all

stiifener embodying the invention.- I extends Vfrom a point inclose proximity to Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figthe forward end, to, or nearly'to the extension -70 v 1ortonguell, The ends Vof theridge are Vin- Y Figure 8 is a bottom planv view, showing dined and mergefintoiportions"ofthe body the portion of a welted shoe bottom with 0f tlle'stl'eleri /Sadrbodylrldllde 10Dg1111- l which the stiffener is associatedthe outsole drlally eXCGIldIlg' IllCIaIid Outer WlngS PTO 2? and heel being omitted. f je'ctin'g-from opposite'side'sfofthe ridge and 75 Figure 4 s a section on line le-4 of Figure transversely inclined Ato Support the ridge oi- 3, andshows by dotted lines the ridged shank V set below .the shank'portion ofthe insolek 13. portion of the outsole. f The inner wing is designated by 19a and has Y Figure 5 is a, Section on 1in@ 5 5 @f Figthe reentrantlycurved edge, 12a. The ridge y y v 19' is located sb'stan'tially'parallel with and 80 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, in close proximity to the edge 12a, and wholshowing a modification. Y lybetween said edge'and the longitudinal me- Figure 7 is a plan view of the shoe bottom,` dianv line of the stitfener, so that the inner showing the outsole and the heel, the stiifener Wing 19a is rel'ativelynarrOW, and the Outer n 1 wing 19b is wider and presents a transversely 5 Figure 8 is an edge view ofthe shoe botinclined ylongitudinally curved vsupporting tom, showing a portion'of the upper. surface coextensive with that portion ofthe The same reference charactersindicatethe Wearers foot which is directly under the 10nsame parts in all of the figures. y gitudinal arch of therfoot, andhas no rid e,y

My improved shank stiffener`12, shown sepsaid supporting surface being stiffened by t e ,go arately by Figures 1, 2,15 and 6,is'made ridge 19. The cross-section of the ridge'd f" preferably of sheet steel, and is adapted to portion of the stitfener is preferably as shown be interposed between shank porti'ons'of the by Figure 5, the ridgeconstituting*a curved insole 13, and the outsole 14C, of a welt shoe. neck between and bulging outward from op- The stifener has longitudinal edges 12a and positelyinclined portions of the stiifener, at a5 12b, lwhich may be caused to conform to the opposite sides of the ridge. '.lhe 'ridge may, curvatureaof the portions of the usual inhowever, constitute aneck which connects the '.nallridgef19', substantially parallel with the 65 seam stitch-securing lip 15,l on the'shank poroppositely inclinedportions, without bulging tion of the insole, the inner edge 12a having therefrom, as shown by Figure 6.v a reentrant formation, as lshown by Figures The stiifener 12 is applied to the shank porieu tion of the insole 13, as indicated by Figures 3 and 4, before the outsole is applied, the welt 2O and upper 21 having been previously united to the lip V15 of the insole by the usual 5 inseam stitches 22 (Figure 4). The outsole 14 is then applied and secured to the welt by the usual: outs-eam' stitches; The shank portion ofthe outsole is' provided'with an outwardly projecting ridge 88, which conforms accurately to the stiffener ridge 19, and issupported by the latter. The forward end portion of the outsole ridge 23 is therefore located in the ball portion of the shoe bottom, between thelongitudinal` median line of the 15 shank portion of the outsole and the reentrantly curved inner edge of said shank portion,and in close proximity toy said inner edge,

asI indicated by Figure 7.

I claim: l v

A. shank stiffener curved to'conform to the curvature of the portion'of a shoe bottom bey tweenthe heel seat and ball, and including a longitudinally Lextending ridge and longitudinally extending inner and outer wings pro- 25 jecting from opposite sidesof the ridge and 40 ridge and located wh transversely inclined to support the ridge olfi set below the shank portion of an insole, the inner wing having a reentrantly curved edge, the ridge being located substantially parallel 30 with and in close proximity to said edge and Y wholly between said edgeVV and the lo'ngitudi-` nal median line of the stilener, so that the inner. wing is relatively narrow andthe outer wing is wider and presents' a transversely in- 3`5 clined longitudinally curved supporting surface coextensive with that ,portion of the Wearers foot which is directly under the longitudinal arch of the foot-,an'dl1'as vno ridge, said supporting surface being stiifened bythe ollyv at the vouter'V side thereof. y u y l u In testimony whereof Ih'av'e affixed my signature.

WILLIAMl H. NICKERSON. 5 

